RO/ARO at a glance
| Full name | Review Officer / Assistant Review Officer etc. (General/Special Selection) Examination |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), Prayagraj |
| Official website | uppsc.up.nic.in |
| Posts | Review Officer, Assistant Review Officer and ARO (Accounts) |
| Stages | Prelims (objective) → Mains → Hindi typing test for ARO posts |
| Interview | None — selection is by examination only |
| Qualification | A bachelor's degree; ARO posts also needed a computer certificate and Hindi typing in the 2023 cycle |
| Age limit | 21 to 40 years in the 2023 cycle |
| Exam mode | Offline, pen and paper in the 2023 cycle |
| Next notification | Awaited — not yet on UPPSC's notifications page |
What is the RO/ARO exam pattern?
Pattern as used in the 2023 cycle
Prelims
One objective paper of three hours, in two parts. Since UPPSC's notice of 30 September 2024 the two parts are sat together, where they used to be two separate papers.
| Paper | QuestionsQs | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 140 | 140 | — |
| General Hindi | 60 | 60 | — |
| Total (one paper) | 200 | 200 | 3 hours |
Prelims decides who goes on to Mains. In the 2023 cycle about 7,500 candidates were called to Mains for 419 posts.
Mains
Three papers over two days. General Studies is objective, General Hindi and Drafting is mostly written with a short objective part, and the Hindi Essay is written.
| Paper | QuestionsQs | Marks | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General StudiesObjective | 120 | 120 | 2 hours | Objective |
| General Hindi and Drafting2½ hours of written drafting, then 30 minutes of objective vocabulary and grammar | — | 160 | 3 hours | 2½ hours of written drafting, then 30 minutes of objective vocabulary and grammar |
| Hindi EssayWritten | — | 120 | 3 hours | Written |
| Total | 400 |
Typing test
For Assistant Review Officer posts, as in the 2023 cycle: Hindi typing at 25 words a minute on a computer.
| Paper | Notes |
|---|---|
| Hindi typing25 words a minute, in Kruti Dev 010 or Mangal Inscript font | 25 words a minute, in Kruti Dev 010 or Mangal Inscript font |
In the 2023 cycle the typing test was held from 16 to 19 February 2026 in Lucknow.
Who can apply for RO/ARO?
| Review Officer | A bachelor's degree in any subject from a recognised university. |
|---|---|
| Assistant Review Officer | A bachelor's degree, the 'O' Level computer certificate from DOEACC (now NIELIT), and Hindi typing at 25 words a minute. |
| ARO (Accounts) | A B.Com with accountancy. |
| Age | 21 to 40 years in the 2023 cycle. The date on which age is counted is fixed by each advertisement. |
| Age relaxation | For reserved categories and other groups as per Uttar Pradesh government rules, set out in the advertisement. |
These are the conditions reported for the 2023 cycle. The next advertisement is the final word on qualifications, age and relaxations.
How does RO/ARO selection work?
As in the 2023 cycle.
- PrelimsOne three-hour objective paper: 140 marks of General Studies and 60 of General Hindi. It decides who sits Mains.
- MainsThree papers for 400 marks: an objective General Studies paper, General Hindi and Drafting, and a Hindi Essay.
- Typing testCandidates for ARO posts type in Hindi at 25 words a minute.
- Final listThere is no interview. The final list comes from the written exams; ARO candidates also take the typing test.
RO/ARO dates and status
How the 2023 cycle ran, and where the next one stands
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| RO/ARO 2023 applications (Advt. A-7/E-1/2023) | 9 October – 24 November 2023 | Closed |
| Prelims (first sitting) | 11 February 2024 | Cancelled |
| Prelims re-exam | 27 July 2025 | Held |
| Prelims result | 16 September 2025 | Declared |
| Mains | 2–3 February 2026 | Held |
| ARO typing test | 16–19 February 2026 | Held |
| Final result (419 selected: 338 RO, 81 ARO) | 5 April 2026 | Declared |
| Next RO/ARO notification | Not announced | Awaited |
Dates change. Before you plan around one, check it on uppsc.up.nic.in.
How NotesCafe helps with RO/ARO
RO/ARO is being added to NotesCafe, built the same way as UPPCS. The plans panel below shows what is open today.
The Syllabus, Mapped
General Studies and General Hindi broken down to the topic, so you can see what is covered and what is left.
Notes on Each Topic
Smart Notes filed on the topic they explain, with space for your own class notes on the same page.
PYQs Where They Belong
Previous-year RO/ARO questions filed against the topic they test.
Shared Ground with UPPCS
Much of the General Studies overlaps with UPPCS Prelims, so preparing on one helps with the other.